Trichome Microscopy 🔬 Harvest Timing Science

[LD50]

What is the magnification there @JoeCrowe?

[GMan]

Sure looks like some rupture happening in a few heads.

[JoeCrowe]

The top photo is 10X objective and the bottom one is 4x. The actual magnification is probably 500 and 1000 times, as an estimate. IT depends on the DPI of your computer’s monitor.

[LD50]

Hello @ColeLennon just PM him so I don’t need to flag your posts for moderation.

[Foreigner]

@LD50

Utah State University to suspend their decade’s long research programs

Yes those Aggies require a lot of special attention and funding.

Are you suggesting building buds are diluted buds?

[JoeCrowe]

I think this is the image people want to see. Ancient trichomes that are wayyy past due.

[TastyCrop]

I don’t have to inform anyone about nothing, their lives, their choices, if things deppend on what I care…I don’t rule their or your world, I wrote I don’t care much don’t mean I am not aware or disagree, just like I don’t care much about politics.

Yeld dilution? Not familiar with that.

[NoCal]

Here is a video lecture on the subject by one of the people who wrote that paper.

Exploring the fascinating development of cannabinoid-producing trichomes - Zamir Punja, PhD

[LD50]

Amazing thank you so much @NoCal for this link.

Here’s an attempt to highlight some timestamps:

• ~10:22 Zamir Punja states that this image of this sample of dried flower has “probably the optimal amount of THC and CBD and terpenes…”
  

  

• ~12:00 Zamir makes an analogy between a trichome head and an electrically powered lamp (lightbulb). Here, the larger the lamp, the more light it emits. Likewise, the larger the trichome head the more THC (and other cannabinoids and terpenes) the trichome is manufacturing.
  

  

• ~17:30 Zamir tells us that the length of the trichome stalk is an indicator of trichome head maturity. The lengthening of the trichome stalk also indicates a “significant increase in terpenoids and cannabinoids”
  

  

• ~18:00 We learn that the secretory disc cells increase in number, which increases the terpinoid and cannabinoid manufacture as a function of the number of secretory cells (which increase at the time of stalk elongation)
  

  

• ~19:00 how cool, cannabinoids flouresce under UV and this can be used as an indicator of cannabinoid concentration.
  

  

• ~23:00 Zamir gets the party started on maturation / ambering of trichome heads.
  

  

• ~26:40 we get a nice summary of the same stuff we’re talking here.
  

  

• Well, tell us…!!
  

  

…he doesn’t draw conclusions on that last line.

Great study, cool use of technology I’d say.

• Disclaimer for those with concern over funded “Aggie” interest:
  
  

Thanks again @NoCal that was a properly fun time.

[Esrgood4u]

If you grow perpetually sometimes you have to take a plant earlier than you’d like. The vegging plants are usually the governor as if you have to give a flowering plant longer it’s usually makes the vegging plant uncontrollable once it gets into flower properly.
A lot of growers use the breeder times as the exact times the plants will finish. I’ve had this fight multiple times with friends that grow on a big scale. The extra week or two will only add more weight so what’s the problem?? Means more cash.

[JoeCrowe]

My brain says there is a problem. Trichomes don’t have a specific height they grow to, when they are done getting taller. I have grown plants with trichomes over 1mm tall and ones with trichomes 1/100th of a millimeter tall. The trichome itself undergoes a life cycle that you can watch and then time.

[LD50]

@Esrgood4u

If you grow perpetually sometimes you have to take a plant earlier than you’d like.

I had this issue before scheduling my three tent perpetual using excel:

So once I constrained the timeline and added some contingency timing, I was able to focus on other factors. Hope that inspires some planning to avoid the “harvest by force” issue!

[Foreigner]

You can’t preemptively make chop plans and expect to have good results.

Sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do but sacrificing ripeness for space just doesn’t feel right.

[LD50]

@Foreigner

You can’t preemptively make chop plans and expect to have good results.

100% agree. In the case of the sideways waterfall chart the harvest is still taken at a time and date of the plants choosing. The schedule is updated daily and helps to keep things on track. It goes from plan to journal as the days progress.

[LD50]

Here’s the first snap from the new microscope referenced in post #77:

Much more to follow once dialed in! I need way more light than it’s offering.

Young trichome, left of image, it seems like clear trichomes are all essentially mesmerizingly smooth and taught.

Cloudy trichomes seem to all share a more baggy look not as smooth, and check out the burst one at the lower area:

[Dirt_Wizard]

@LD50

need way more

-80 LED Compact Ring Light with Built-in Dimmer for Stereo Microscopes – Microscope Central

-Vision Scientific VMLIHL-20 6 Watt LED Double Gooseneck Illuminator | Heavy Base for Stability | Color Temperature Unchanged When Adjusting Intensity: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

[LD50]

I see a lot of this too, not sure if it’s my handling.

[JoeCrowe]

Does that microscope have lab software as well for measuring and exposure?

[LD50]

No, all visuals, It would be nice to measure some sizes I know!

[Dirt_Wizard]

@LD50 a cheaper ($17) gooseneck option are sewing machine or machine tool lights, but $70 for that Vision is way better than $130 for the AmScope, which is admittedly really nice:

-Amazon.com: EVISWIY Sewing Machine Light LED Lighting (30LEDs) 6 Watt Multifunctional Flexible Gooseneck Arm Work Lamp with Magnetic Mounting Base for Workbench Lathe Drill Press 2 Pack : Arts, Crafts & Sewing